Often people find themselves struggling to understand how to live the Christian life.
Our naturally developed mind-set and tendencies are opposite of God's ways. God told us that through Isaiah. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways’, declares the Lord. ’For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55: 8, 9).
As fallen, sinful persons we have all developed flesh patterns which are sinful tendencies to approach everything in life from a selfish perspective. The New Testament Scriptures calls it the "flesh". Each of us has these unique action and reaction flesh patterns of selfishness and sinfulness in the soul. When we become Christians, we still have those patterned tendencies of the “flesh”. Paul explains to the Galatian Christians that "the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another" (Gal. 5:17). To the Romans, Paul wrote, "I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin...I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not" (Rom. 7:14,18).
These patterned tendencies of the "flesh" affect our individual “approaches to living” the Christian life. Some Christians approach the Christian life as a project. They see life as a task to be completed. Results are the key focus in everything. The goal in their mind is to get the job done!
Then there are those who approach the Christian life as if it is something to “promote”. Their efforts are used to persuade everyone and to get everyone excited and “caught up” in the moment. The goal is to be enthusiastic about being a Christian and to be on “fire” for Jesus, even better to “burn out” for Jesus. They want everyone get involved and to join in the exciting programs.
Still others approach the Christian life as a "cure." They think that the Christian life should be pleasant and conventional. For them, security is found in that which is stable and status-quo. They want everybody to "get-along." This is the way we have always done things before. The goal is to have a safe environment of fun and fellowship.
Some Christians approach the Christian life as “morality”. They view the goal of the Christian life as proper thinking and proper action, resulting in correct doctrine and correct ethics. These Christians want to get everything figured-out accurately and logically to do the right thing. They "study to show themselves approved." They want everyone to think like they do, and to conform to their beliefs for life. The goal is to "do it right," "keep the commandments," and "live by the Book."
All Christians have been influenced by one or more of these fleshly approaches to live the Christian life. Every one of us has had a tendency to approach our Christian life from a selfish prospective. That is why for so many, the Christian life doesn't seem to be working, it was never intended “to work” by our "works" of self-sufficiency.
Every one of these fleshly tendencies has a deadly flaw which assumes that it is possible to live the Christian life. Can you live the Christian life? The answer is no, a resounding NO!
Our mistake has been to falsely believe that we can live the Christian life. This is due to “unbelief” which revolves around us! You are your own point of reference. It’s called self-centeredness. Are you trying to live the Christian life? How’s that working for you? You cannot live the Christian life. No wonder we have been confused. We have been trying to figure out how to live the Christian life.
If you can’t live the Christian life, who can? Would it surprise you if I said; that not even Jesus Christ could live the Christian life? That’s right, not even Jesus could… “Just hold that thought”, we will come back to it in a minute and explain.
None of us can live the Christian life! If Jesus Christ cannot live the Christian life, what makes you think that you can? What freedom! You can give up trying to live the Christian life! We can all testify what a colossal failure we have been at trying to live the Christian life. Failure we all understand.
If Jesus Christ could not live the Christian life, than who can? God the Father lives the Christian life. Or should I say, He doesn’t live the Christian life but that He IS the Christian life. He is the highest life. He is eternal life!
The Father indwelt His Son here on this earth for thirty-three years. The Father lived the Christian life inside Jesus Christ. It was the Father's life, and the Father's life alone, which lived the Christian life inside Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:10, "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.”
It is the Father's life, and the Father's life alone, that ever lives the Christian life. God the Father is eternal life and this life was manifested in the person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is the Father's life, and Father's life alone, which will live the Christian life in you. Try to embrace a formula or a "to do list" in order to "live the Christian life" and you are doomed to frustration and failure.
John 14:7-13 (The Message)
Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!"
Philip said, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content."
"You've been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don't understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, 'Where is the Father?' Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you aren't mere words. I don't just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act.
"Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can't believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, (I) am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it.”
That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son.” What is the Father doing in you through Christ? Are you letting Christ live the Christian Life through you?
The Christian life is not static. It is not something you or I can accomplish. It is not a crusade. It is not some spiritual plateau we are to reach. It is not a systematic, theological belief-system. The Christian life is the dynamic manifestation of the life and character of the personal presence of Jesus Christ, who is "the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6).
In John 15:5 Jesus says, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing." Apart from Jesus Christ and His activity in and through us, we can do nothing that will affect the living of the Christian life. We must give up our naturally patterned approaches, and rely only on Him, totally dependent and deriving life from the only One who is Life!
The secret to living the Christian life is to participate with the indwelling personal presence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as our life. Start enjoying the Secret today!
